Clayton State men preseason pick in
Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball
Lakers selected conference favorite for the second straight season

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- OCTOBER 19, 2006 --- For the second straight season, the Clayton State Lakers have been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2006-07 Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball championship, based on the preseason poll. The poll, conducted by the conference’s head coaches, was released by the conference on Thursday.

In a highly contested race, Clayton State received seven of the possible 11 first-place votes and 113 total points. The next three teams were separated by only two points. Armstrong Atlantic was picked second with 104 points, followed by USC-Upstate in third with 103 and Columbus State in fourth with 102.

Augusta State (76), Georgia College (72), Lander (51), Peach Belt newcomer Georgia Southwestern (43), North Georgia (43), USC-Aiken (38), Francis Marion (35) and UNC-Pembroke (12) rounded out the voting.

“Being selected to win the Peach Belt by the coaches in our league is an honor for our players,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons, who is 97-49 entering his sixth season at the Laker helm. ”Numerous national polls have ranked us high, but the respect of our peers is always noteworthy. Now we must prove up.”

Clayton State enters the 2006-07 season not only as the preseason favorite in the Peach Belt, but also ranked nationally in two preseason polls. The Lakers are ranked eighth in the Street & Smith Yearbook Division II Top 10, and ranked 12^th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25.

The Lakers return seven veteran players from last season, including four starters. Headlining the returning players is All-Peach Belt Conference and All-South Atlantic Region guard Todd McLaurin. He will be supported by fellow returning starters Aristide Sawadogo at center, John Beugnot at power forward and Michael Sloan on the wing. Brandon Kelley, who was stellar as the Lakers’ sixth man last season, takes over the point guard duties this season.

Senior guard Rod Venner, a transfer from Jacksonville State, and sophomore forward Brian Kelly, a transfer from Duquesne, headline a stellar Clayton State recruiting class.

Clayton State opens the season with an exhibition game on Nov. 1 against Martinique at 7:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The Lakers open the regular season at home on Nov. 21 against Southeastern.